Hydraulic engine



N. PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HEATON, OF DIXON, ILLINOIS.

HYDRAULIC ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,280, dated September 29, 1857.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, J oHN D. IIEATON, of Dixon, in the county of Lee andState of Illinois, have invented and made certain new and usefulImprovements in I-Iydraulic Motors cr later-Engines; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making a partof this specification, Figure l being a perspective view of the enginecomplete. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the engine. Fig. 3 is avertical view of one of the stationary valves detached. Fig. 4 is a topview of one of the valves detached. Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical views ofthe two valves detached and showing their positions relative to theopening and closing of the parts of the engine.

The nature of my improvements consists in constructing an oscillatingwater engine with peculiarly constructed stationary valves, and wherebyis brought about the economical employment of a small volume of waterand applied in suoli a manner as to afford sutiicient power to drive ata very moderate expense machinery of various kinds.

The construction of my engine is as follows, viz: I have provided asuitable framing of required strength and dimensions, formed of twoupright timbers a, a, a, a, and two horizontal cross rails b, Z), Z). Tothese I attach horizontally two suitable standards c, c, c, c, 0, towhich is `arranged by its shaft, horizontally a fly, or balance, drivingwheel (l, (Z, d, al. The peculiarities however of my engine are in thewater chambers, the water compartments, and the stationary valves.

By reference to Fig. l, it will be perceived that e, e, 0,6, e, e, e, e,are water chambers, attached on each side of a horizontal cylinder f, f,whose ends terminate at and connect with circular pressure chambers, orwater compartments g, g, g, g, each compartment having an inlet port L,h, and an outlet port it?, h2, Fig. 2. Within the water chambers, on thebottom thereof, are suitable short journal ends z', z', Fig. 2. Thewater chambers have suitable caps, or tops J, J, J, J, of a conicalshape, and are fitted closely to the chambers c, e, e, c, e, e. Thewater chambers, the compartments, and the cylinder are all formed of andcast in one piece, Vithin the water chambers are arranged hollow valves7u, 7c, 7c, c, Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6.

Slightly less than one half of the circumference of these valves are cutout, forming an open side, as shown at L, L, L, L, Figs. il, 5 and 6.The bottom of these hollow valves are coniform, or slightly pyramidal,as at m, m, m, m, Figs. 2, 3, the underside formed with a socket, orpivot step, m2, m2, Fig. l. `While their upper part of the valves arebell-like7 or of a coniform concave shape as at n, n, a, fn, n;terminating in a short tubular neck as at 0, 0, 0, Figs. 2, 3. Thesepeculiarly formed valves, being arranged within their seats or waterchambers, are held vertically in position by their tubular ends 0, 0, 0,attached permanently in j0urnal places formed in the cross rails l), b,b, l), so as to prevent the valves fromrotating or moving out of true.To the top end, or neck part of the upper valve, is fitted an airchamber I), I), of the form shown, and provided with a central tube P2,to which is to be fitted a conduit or induction pipe g, g; and to theunder, or lower, valve neck, is an eduction or escape pipe, which is ofsuitable length, and its terminus formed of a trumpet like shape.

lithin the cylinder f, f, is fitted, a piston r, r, r, the rod s, s, s,of which is connected to a crank arm t, t, attached to the aXle or shaftof the Hy wheel, which runs as is shown in a horizontal position.

All the parts of the engine must be made, and put together with suitablepacking. The area of the internal surface of the ports, the pressurechambers, the supply and discharge pipes must be equal together to thearea of the piston cylinder, and the diameter of the induction or supplypipe P, I) may diminish with the increase of the volume of head, andfall of water. The forms of the sides of the water chambers e, e, c, e,e, e, and the valves iitting therein may be more conical in constructionthan vertical, so as to work closely and be watertight and secure shouldit be desirable to employ steam, hot air, or gas.

The operation of my engine is as follows: Being stationed at theterminus of a fore bay, or water channel, having a sufficient fall, andarranged so that the running volume of water shall be conducted throughpipes or tubes, and enter into the central tube P2. of the air chamber,and thence pass down through the neck o, o, enter and till the hollowvalve k, 7s, la, 7s, observing that in starting the engine the valvesmust be open,

or past the dead point, as in Figs. 5 and 6. This position of the valvesenables the ll ing 0r charging of the compartments and cylinderthroughout the whole of the machine, and as the volume or flow of watercontinues downward through the eduction, or outlet pipe, which pipe isimmersed in the spent volume beneath the engine, and thus it will beseen that addition to the hydrostatic force is brought into requisition.Having charged the engine with water, throughout all its ramifications,the balance wheel is set in mot-ion, which causes the cylinder part andchambers to oscillate, around the stationary valves, and which movementcauses the ports 7L, 71 It, la, alternately to be opened and closedabove and below. The position of the stationary valves, being as shownin Figs. 5, 6. This oscillating motion enables the volume of water toenter the cylinder and to act alternately on the front and back part ofthe piston, and which consequently gives motion thereto.

It must be observed that at or about the passing of the dead point; thatis, when the position of the crank arm is such as to nearly close theports, the oscillation of the engine is the greatest. And on thatportion of the valve which cuts off th-e water is eX- erted the greatestpressure or torce, while the opposite port is open to the flow of water.And when the piston head reaches its utmost extent, all the ports areclosed or shut off; hence the pressure is balanced on the valve. Andwhen one of the ports is entirely closed and the other entirely open asat h., li, L, 71 Figs. 5, 6, the pressure is then wholly on the side ofthe valve which closes said port as at it, 7e, Fig. 5. Thus the pressureof the passing volume is reversed or alternates on opposite sides asindicated by t-he position of Figs. 3 and 4. This reverse pressureoccurs twice in one revolution of the balance wheel, and it will beperceived too that the pressure is reversed on opposite sides of thepiston head, independently of any valvular movement, because the valvesare stationary, and being suspended or sustained by their short tubularneck, the body part of the engine must work smoothly and with accuracyof oscillatiom' and divested greatly of friction and strain of parts.

It deemed proper, and in order to make the engine less costly, thevertical air chamber P, P, may be entirely dispensed with, and, byarranging the engine horizontally, having the ily wheel to runvertically, the Iparts g, g, g, g, then may be made to answer as andperform the service of air chambers.

1t is believed by actual test, and use, that my oscillating water enginepossesses to a very great and unusual degree greater advantages than themajority of engines in use, presenting as my improvements do theimport-ant features of simplicity, durability, cheapness ofconstruction, and certainty of operation, and general adaptability towater, steam, hot air, or gas.

Having described the nature, construction, and operation ot' myimprovements, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States, is-

l. The peculiarly constructed form and application, and the arrangementof the stationary valves 7c, L, m, a, o, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, G, and asoperated.

2. I also claim the construction and arrangement oi' the water chambers,e, c, e, pressure compartments g, g, and cylinder f, f, combined in onesingle piece, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN D. HEATON.

lVitnesses:

JOHN S. HoLLrNGsHEAD, JOHNSON SIMoNDs.

